Incendiary bomb



Feb. 26, 1952 EPLER ETAL 2,586,801

INCENDIARY BOMB Filed Aug. 27, 1942 0. L. WOODBERR) R. B. EPLER Patented Feb. 26, 1952 INCENDIARY BOMB Robin B. Epler and DavidLrwoodberry, United States Army, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application August 27, 1942, Serial N6. 456,337

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

9 Claims.

amended Apr-i130, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for Governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to aerial bombs of the type adapted to be dropped from an airplane for scattering instrumentalities of confiagration.

Incendiary bombs of the type now generally used are so constructed and equipped as to lend themselves to being dropped successively either individually or in groups or clusters; each bomb being generally provided with a fuze and stabilizing fins, and by reason of its formation will fall in a straight line or has true flight while on its trajectory, and will impact nose end first.

While present prior art incendiary bombs have a material degree of efiectiveness, they are, however relatively easy to locate, and hence may be quickly extinguished or otherwise rendered ineffective for the purpose intended.

The broad aim of the present invention is to provide an incendiary device which will possess a degree of extended and effective destructiveness not attainable by prior available incendiaries, and

which will be difiicult to locate or extinguish.

In its broader aspect the invention consits of the provision of an incendiary unit which will burn in a cloud of screening smoke and conse quently will be very diificult to locate and even when located will be difiioult to extinguish as accessibility thereto is materially impeded by the screening and harassing efiect of the liberated smoke.

Further, it is contemplated that the incendiary units of the present invention be encased in large numbers within a container or mother bomb having therein a filler in the nature of a smoke screen-producing agency and in which the incendiary units are embedded. Additionally, the units are so constructed as to entrap some of the filler to the end that when the units are liberated they will, individually, burn in a cloud of screening smoke as and for the purpose hereinbefore indicated;

It is further contemplated-by this invention that the container or mother bomb for the incendiary units constituting the salient feature of the invention, be of more or less conventional structure. Preferably a container or mother bomb having a control bursting charge and a nose fuze designed to function upon impact either instantaneously or with a delayed action as found desirable or advantageous, for fragmentizing the mother bomb, resulting in the liberation and diffusion of the incendiary units over a wid would be utilized.

The incendiary units constituting the main feature of the present invention are simple in'construction, lending themselves to mass production; can be readily and easily encased, in large numbers, in a container or mother bomb; are positive in ignition; and are otherwise capable of attaining the stated and apparent objects of the invention.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a container or mother bomb filled with a smoke screen-producing instrumentality and a multiplicity of individual incendiary units constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one form of incendiary unit contemplated by this invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of an alternate form of incendiary unit.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of an incendiary unit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, 5 indicates a fragmentary portion of a container or mother bomb, the casing of which may be made of steel, iron, magnesium metal, or any other suitable material. The particular construction and shape of the mother bomb 5 are not of the essence of the invention, and hence need not be herein shown and described in detail. It may be observed, however, that, as is conventional with incendiary bombs, the mother bomb will be equipped in the usual manner with a well known type of control bursting charge for fragmentizing the casing of the bomb and forceably expelling the contents thereof, and will also be equipped with a nose fuze of a type designed to function upon impact, either instantaneously or with a delayed action as may be found desirable or advantageous.

In accordance with the present invention there are confined within the casing of the container or mother bomb 5, a filler 6, in the form of a 7 area,

smoke screen-producing agency, and a multiplicits incendiary action as well as its smoke cloud I producing qualities, is forced into the casing of the mother bomb, with portions of the referred to filler 6 being forced into chambers provided therefor the respective incendiary units 1.

Two forms of incendiary units 1' are herein ilof incendiary composition preferably made up of barium nitrate, aluminum (flaked), aluminum (grained), sulfur, and castor oil (commercial);

and firing or ignition elements in the form of plugs fitted within and closing the respective opposite ends of the body shell creasing and of a composition preferably consisting of barium nitrate, aluminum (flaked), aluminum (grained), sulfur, linseed oil (commercial), anda selected grade of black powder. Also, at each end thereof each incendiary unit is provided, in a manner hereinafter more fully explained, with chambers in which some of the agency 6 is trapped incidental to the filling of the container or mother bomb 5 with the mentioned filler 6 to the. end that each individual incendiary unit is charged I with a screening smoke-producing agency.

In Fig. 2 is detailed one form of incendiary unit. In said Fig. 2 the body or shell of the unit is indicated by the reference numeral 8; the incendiary filling with which the body 8 is charged under pressure is indicated by the reference numeral 9; the ignition plugs are indicated by the reference numerals I'0. 0, and the chambers at the respective ends of the units are designated by the reference numerals i ll l.

The chambers ll' of this form of incendiary unit are in the nature of caps I2. Caps l2 are made from the same material, preferably magnesium metal, from which the casing or shell body 3 is made, and are secured on the reduced ends of the body 8 in any suitablema-n-ner, as by either a pressed fit, as shown, or optionally by being threaded onto said ends as might be found more desirable.

Each of the caps I2 is provided in the crown thereof with an opening 13 and in the periphery thereof with circumferentially spaced openings l4 through which the filler material 6 is forced into the respective chambers ll incidental to the filling of the mother bomb or container 5 with such filler 6.

Accommodated within the hollows of caps 12 are thimbles N5 of highly inflammable material, cellulose nitrate, as an example. Each thimble at its open end is provided with an outstanding flange I! that is clamped between an internal shoulder l8 formed on the cap I2 and the adjacent end of the body 8; the flange I! being cemented to the body 8 as at I9 to exclude moisture from the interior of the body 8.

Thimbles l6 align with recesses provided in the ignition plugs 10 to accommodate fuze sticks 15, that at one end seat within the recesses and at a p os e e d fit snug in the tum les.

Upon liberation of the just described form of incendi un ts. he har es of the a ent, Wh t phosp o u i hin t chamb s I on xposure to air turn by c mb na ion with the ox en 02 the i pro u in a h h emp rature and vo umes of dense, white smoke. The smoke so produced tends to screen the burningincendiary rend ring it oilifioult o anyone to l cate the unit 4 and extinguish it. At the same time, the burning phosphorus ignites the thimbles i6 setting fire to the fuze sticks 15 that in turn ignite the isnition plugs l0. Consequently the highly inflammable incendiary filler 9 is ignited causing bursting of the magnesium shell 8 which latter burns in the presence of the oxygen of the air. Thus the unit burns with an intense heat, setting ;fire to practically any object with which it may come in contact, while, at the same time,

the phosphorus produces a smoke cloud and patches of fire so that the unit, being thus en- 'veloped, is verydifiicult to locate and extinguish.

Hence, the effectiveness of each individual incendiary unit is materially enhanced.

The alternate form of incendiaryunit T, exemplified in Fig. 3 is characterized by the absence of thimbles l6, and fuze sticks l5, and also by having its magnesium body or shell I08 entirely enveloped by an inner envelope 2; and a longer outer envelope 2|.

Envelopes '20 and 2| are constructed in any suitable manner, are formed of combustible or inflammable material, preferably cellulose nitrate, to facilitate ignition of the unit, and are sealed to exclude moisture.

The outer envelope 2! extends beyond the opposite ends of the inner envelope 20 so as to provide therewith, at the respective opposite ends of theunit, chambers H I that correspond to the chambers H hereinbefore described with reference to the form of incendiary unit shown in Figure 2. At said ends the envelope 2| is provided with apertures I I4 through which portions of the filler 5 of the mother bomb or container 5 pass into the chambers Ill, incidental to the charging of the bomb or container with such filler 6.

In actual practice all of the incendiary units 1 in the mother bomb or container may either be of the form shown in Figure 2, or of the form shown in Figure 3, or the incendiary unit-contents of the mother bomb or container 5 may include several of each of the two forms of incendiary units herein detailed, as may be found most advantageous.

It will be seen that when the mother bomb or container 5 upon impact, bursts under the action of its explosive charge, the smoke producing agency 6 and the incendiary units 1 will be thrown and scattered in all directions. The filler .6 being, as previously stated, preferably in the form of white phosphorus, is spontaneously inflammable and consequently will burn in the presence of the oxygen of the air to produce a harassing and screening smoke. The liberated incendiaries I are caused to ignite and burn in an enveloping smoke screen resulting from the presence of the white phosphorus in the respective chambers ll and III, as the case may be; ignition being implemented, in the case of the incendiary units of Fig. 2 by the cellulose nitrate thimbles l6 and fuze sticks l5, and in the case of the incendiary units of Fig. 3 by the cellulose nitrate envelopes 20, 2 i,

F om he regoing then, t w l be appreciated that the locations of the dropped mother bombs and the incendiary units liberated from the mother bombs, will be materially screened by the smoke clouds produced by the burning white phosphor d t a th h a sin effects of such smoke screens will render access to the burn;- ing elements extremely difiicult if not impossible. onsequen the ex n u s ing of the incendi aries will be long delayed and the destructive effectiveness thereof greatly increased.

It is believed that the foregoing sets forth the invention in such detail as will enable others to fully appreciate the advantages thereof and to adapt the invention to various applications within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims, the precise detailed construction as herein set forth being by way of illustration and not by way of restriction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An incendiary munition comprising a mother bomb having therein a filler of incendiary and smoke screen-producing composition, and a plurality of individual incendiary units embedded in the filler; each of said units comprising a shell of magnesium metal, a charge of incendiary composition and. firing mixtures for igniting the charge confined within the shell, and means on the shell for entrapping some of the first named filler whereby each unit, upon dispersion from the mother bomb is provided for developing its own, individual smoke cloud.

2. An incendiary munition comprising a mother bomb having therein a filler of incendiary and smoke-producing composition and a plurality of individual incendiary units embedded in the filler, each of said units embodying a shell of magnesium metal, and an incendiary composition in the shell, chambers at the respective opposite ends of the shell, and fillings of incendiary and smoke-producing composition within the chambers.

3. An aerial bomb having therein a filler of incendiary and smoke-producing composition, and a multiplicity of individual incendiary units embedded in the filler and respectively having chambers the walls of which are perforated for entrapping within the respective chambers a por tion of said filler.

4. An incendiary unit embodying a shell having a filling of incendiary composition therein, means for igniting the composition disposed at one end of the shell, and a chambered cap on said one end of the shell containing a charge of smoke screen-producing composition.

5. An incendiary unit embodying a shell having therein a filling of incendiary composition, means at opposite ends of the shell for igniting the composition, and chambered caps on the ends of the shell containing a charge of smoke screenproducing composition having incendiary properties.

6. An incendiary unit embodying a shell having therein a filling of incendiary composition, and a casing enveloping and sealing the shell; said casing being of inflammable material, and

r having at opposite ends thereof chambers provided with perforated walls, and each of said chambers having therein a smoke screen-producing composition.

7. An incendiary unit embodying a shell having therein a filling of incendiary composition and a casing enveloping and sealing the shell, said casing embodying inner and outer envelopes of inflammable material, and the outer envelope having perforated end portions extending beyond the inner envelope and providing with the latter chambers for receiving charges of a smoke screen-producing composition.

8. An incendiary bomb having therein a filler of an incendiary and smoke-producing composition and a plurality of individual incendiary units dispersed and embedded in said filler, each of said incendiary units including a charge of smoke producing material.

9. An incendiary bomb having therein a filler of an incendiary and smoke-producing composition and a plurality of incendiary units dispersed and embedded in said filler.

ROBIN B. EPLER. DAVID L. WOODBERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,329,443 Thomas Feb. 3, 1920 1,333,786 Thomas Mar. 16, 1920 1,436,248 Hammond Nov. 21, 1922 1,878,489 Goss Sept. 20, 1932 2,084,994 Allen June 29, 1937 2,148,623 Hunter Feb. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 833,309 France July 18, 1938 239,293 Germany Oct. 16, 1911 655,739 Germany Jan, 21, 1938 250,271 Great Britain Oct. 21, 1926 493,618 France May 7, 1919 524,919 France May 24, 1921 

8. AN INCENDIARY BOMB HAVING THEREIN A FILLER OF AN INCENDIARY AND SMOKE-PRODUCING COMPOSITION AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL INCENDIARY UNITS DISPERSED AND EMBEDDED IN SAID FILLER, EACH OF SAID INCENDIARY UNITS INCLUDING A CHARGE OF SMOKE PRODUCING MATERIAL. 